The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a Product Safety Alert about baby sleep pillows, warning that these products present a risk of serious harm or death to infants.
For several years, the NCMD has worked with OPSS to ensure that the best available evidence about unsafe infant sleep products is reflected in national policy and practice. As part of this work, the UK Government has now issued a formal product safety alert concerning baby sleep pillows.
These products are marketed or intended to be used as pillows or cushions for babies to sleep on, or with, or to be placed on or with, unsupervised.
The alert highlights the main harms of suffocation and overheating which can lead to serious injury or death in babies. These harms can occur when a baby is placed on the baby sleep pillow unattended or for sleep including when the pillow is put into a cot or crib.
OPSS has significant concerns about baby sleep pillows marketed for babies under 12 months old. These products promote sleep or care practices that contravene NHS Safe Sleep guidance and can give rise to significant harm or death. Action is being taken to assess these products and to remove those that are unsafe from the market.
Consumers, carers, educators, local authority trading standards services, and businesses are asked to be alert to the potential dangers of baby sleep pillows.
Read the OPSS Product Safety Alert: Baby Sleep Pillows (PSA8)
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